Melissa L. Bean

In the early years of his long congressional career, Philip M. Crane was a key figure in the fledgling conservative movement that became a standard of American politics.

In the 1970s, the Illinois congressman's home outside Washington was the meeting place of some of the capital's most influential conservatives. His writings guided the political philosophy that led to Ronald Reagan's presidency and the Republican takeover of Congress in the mid-1990s.

"Phil Crane was one of the great intellectual leaders who pioneered the way for Ronald Reagan and convinced people like me that constitutional conservatism was vital," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who in...

Related "Melissa L. Bean" Articles

In the early years of his long congressional career, Philip M. Crane was a key figure in the fledgling conservative movement that became a standard of American politics.
In the 1970s, the Illinois congressman's home outside Washington was the meeting...